Red - Western v. Eastern cultures

Red is one of my favorite colors, which typically represents vitality, romance, energy, lust - as well as anger and evil in Western cultures. However, in many Eastern cultures red represents power of spirituality, protection and commitment which is why it is the center of traditional Indian weddings. As Americans, we see red as a representation of not only love but also evil depicted in images of hell and the devil, the exact opposite of what you would imagine at a wedding.

Indian weddings revolve around traditional customs and rituals using red henna, strings, jewelery, etc. Matrimonial bliss and promise of togetherness is sealed by the "warmth and binding power of a red drape and red accessories". This online articles goes in to the details of the use of color red in wedding rituals;
http://www.sensationalcolor.com/color-messages-meanings/color-around-the-globe/india-the-color-red-simplicity-purity-and-candor.html .

Similarly, as we discussed in class Thursday, wearing white to a wedding can be considered offensive in Eastern cultures since it is often a symbol of mourning and worn to funerals. It still symbolizes purity and cleanliness as it does in the US but it doesn't give off the same meaning of luck, togetherness and happiness as we believe it represents for a bride on her wedding day.

I have a red and purple room at my parents house, red and black themed bathroom at my apartment with a red and purple comforter set in my bedroom. I most definitely do not see red as a symbolism of hell or evil like the media depicts when discussing the stereotypical ideologies of heaven (white) v. hell (red). For me, I see the color red as a symbol of vitality and energy combined with the mysterious color purple. If it were up to me, I'd much rather defy Western traditions and wear red on my wedding day.